You ought to try them out if you haven’t already- do a google search for any on in your area and head down this weekend!

They are fun, filled with very good people, and loaded with goodies like organic fresh veges and fruits, sweet treats, gluten free, dairy free, natural oils and awesome goods for your body and your mind to LOVE. Genuine people, real people.

There is a myth that healthy living is expensive. It doesn’t have to be. Not if you buy localand not if you get to know your farmers! Meet the ‘real people’. Cut out the big corporations and middle men and go straight to the source. SAVE your money and SAVE your health

Tomorrow I am very excited to be going to my favourite markets..The Burleigh Markets! I have spoken about them before on many occasions and today I am going to do the same! What I am mega excited about is taking Craig’s daughter down for some yummy food,and to meet some of my favourite peoplethere…

On the menu tomorrow is:

PALEO PANCAKESfrom Purely Natural. YUMMO! I am a huge fan of their product- so much so they have given me a discount code for any people who follow me.. I get no commission for this- I just totally DIG their product. If you want 15% OFF their certified, raw products online– read HERE for the discount code and website address. Why don’t you come and join me for PANCAKES tomorrow after a CROSSFIT SESH people?!I know you cross fitters love PALEO!!!

I will also be introducing Craig’s lovely daughter to my favourite RAW FOOD MASTERS: Colin and Bryn from RAW CONNECTIONS. Go HERE to visit their website. Better still – come down and meet them yourselves!! I will be having either their quinoa porridge– if its still on the menu- or I bags the raw pizzawhich is my all time favourite. DEVINE! If you love sweets- oh my Lord you MUST try ANY of their raw food treats. These guys have had 20 years in the business- so they know their stuff!!! MORE than any other newbee popping up around this joint calling themselves ‘chefs…gurus.. blah blah blah.. pick their brains- they are such a wealth of knowledge and will give you all the time of the day!

Organic and spray free veges and fruits are here- make sure you find the real deal

AND RAW HONEY. When you make sweets or want to sweeten food- I use Purely Natural Coconut Nectar or RAW honey. NEVER buy honey from the supermarket- EVER. EVER. EVER. You just don’t know what that stuff REALLY is… Come down and get a beee – utiful jar of raw honey from $5.00 which is CHEAPER than the supermarket… and let your body and mind thank you for it.

All these people are found in the covered section at the Burleigh Markets- Burleigh School- Gold Coast Highway.

THEN head across the road to MARIE-ANITA’S – this is the BESTcafé on the Gold Coast. Marie-Anita and Maz have an artisan glutenfree café serving meals and food and coffee and tea to send you into foodie heaven. Take a loaf of Marie’s Sorghum bread home.. baked on premises.. and go get my absolute favourite.. you have GOT to try her coconut muffins.. ohhh so light and NO SUGAR ADDED.

Come down and enjoy the morning with me! Treat your tummy- your body and your mind to food from the earth. Come away feeling amazing and light and on top of the world! Great way to start the day!! I’m so excited!!

“Great! Enjoyed it! It was a fun day and that chia – oh my gosh – So amazing – can’t wait to buy some and get making for home. Loved it and thanks Vashte for the experience. It was great and the knowledge you shared too …My soup was amazing and I shared with my parents they loved it too so good with my Curry plant in it chia pudding is next to make “ G Ritchie.

“The workshop is jam- packed full of great ideas for tasty and nutritious meals and snacks. I really enjoyed the workshop. The ladies were all lovely, and the ideas were just fantastic. I got an incredible amount of new ideas and recipes out of the day, which I have already started to use. I am off to the shops today to get a few additional things also. Can’t wait to permanently make even just a few changes (lemon in the morning, himilayan salt, coconut oil to cook etc etc) I really appreciate that you are a wealth of knowledge and experience, so I wanted to ask what I could. Thanks Vashte” C Borghouts.

“Amazing! Thankyou for inviting me into your home to learn and taste some incredible recipes. I can’t wait to try my hand at the pizza and soup. Actually I cant wait to try them all! For me today has shown me that healthy eating is easy to make and so amazingly tasty and filling….Quinoa salad made last night! Yummy but think I overdid quinoa a bit :/ next to try…… Vegetable soup!” Sarah

“I felt this workshop was highly beneficial to me. I learnt so much about health, food and about weightloss. I thought it was great to learn while we were cooking” Liliana.

“Becoming more aware of the chemistry of the foods was invaluable. The food was delicious and nothing was too difficult or expensive, and I will be able to implement this at home.” Kylie

“Definitely learnt how to use healthier products and had a lot of fun learning.Thank you once again for your teaching of wonderful food ideas. My son and I had a lovely time shopping at Flannery’s on Sunday and purchased lots of new food. I made the slow cooked soup for dinner tonight and we loved it. Thank you for your fabulous recipes and we look forward to making most of them. I look forward to learning more from you. You are just so passionate.
“ Desley.

“It was fantastic – great information and learning with practical doable recipes. I really liked that it was interactive.Thanks for yesterday Vashte it was a great workshop! And I’m definitely going to commit to making the pizza, sushi, cereal and chia pudding this month – one new thing a week I had lost some momentum with my clean eating so your workshop has rekindled the spark – thank you. I meant to ask you for the recipe for the dehydrator cracker which were fantastic – is there any chance I could get that off you as I can’t wait to try out me dehydrator!
Thanks again Vashte and I look forward to the release of the dates for your next workshops “ Vicky

“The combination of clear food- totally delicious! Plan ahead, empower myself and choice. Many new ingredients were used today that I am excited to apply to my lifestyle. Thankyou so much. Loved today!” Elizabethrose

“I came to get fresh cooking tips and I got it” Darren

“I found you very knowledgeable and passionate about what you do. It was great to learn about new ingredients I have never used before. I will enjoy testing some of them out.” Jo

“Yes, I was very impressed. So many good things to try” Barbara.

“What a fun, interesting afternoon! Have learnt so much and can’t wait to try ideas and ways of cooking” C. Campbell

“Inspiration and encouragement. We are on the right track. Keep doing what we are doing”. Gina

“Yes! Plenty of great information. Best part is making unknown ingredients far less scary. And everything tastes so good! Change can be so difficult that often we don’t even take the leap at all. Attending your food workshop on the weekend not only took away our fear but inspired us to experiment and have fun with food that will only serve to nourish us… This morning we enjoyed your “Heaven in a Glass” and from a 5 and 9 year old, it got thumbs up. (Mr 5 said maybe less seeds would be good, but his glass was still well eaten from lol). Thank you Vash Te, we are so happy to have begun this path with your help. Such an awesome afternoon. Would recommend to anybody wanting to take action toward real health xx Dylan was walking on clouds when we left, actually muttered “that was one of the best days of my life” haha, bless his little heart xxx Love Paula and Dylan xx My kitchen has never smelt soo good. …Thanks to Vash Te and her amazing food workshop! ‪#‎vegesoup‬‪#‎pearledbarley‬‪#‎coconutheaven‬ And the best part is, it’s ALL GOOD! ‪#‎ohmygoodness‬!! Lol xx ” Paula

DoYOUwant to be part of the wholefood revolution?!!

Come to my workshopswhere I keep the numbers low so that you can ask questions, get involved and play.

I take the pretentiousness out of healthy cooking.

I refuse Superfood Snobberyat the door.

We laugh, we try new ideas, we taste, we eat and we learn at our own pace.

Chia seeds have received a rise in popularity again since hhmmm about 2008-2009- if you ask me. That was when the health food stores started seeing more brands coming on board, more marketing and then, as a result of that marketing.. more demand. Stands to reason- supply and demand. Today you can buy chia seeds from the supermarkets.You find them in the health food section – a section that is growing faster than many other sections in the supermarkets as more companies understand that you and I are eduating ourselves and no longer demanding spoon feeding.

Chia is almost a household ingredient… almost, but not quite… but …why are we demanding it?

Well.. its one of those…‘ superfoods‘.. right? So it ‘must’ be good for us- so we want it. … That is pretty much how it goes isn’t it? “I heard it was good for me so I want it.” “My friend puts some in her smoothies and she feels great. I want to feel great too. ” ‘” Someone said it helps with weightloss -I will have that too. ” You know the story.

I thought I would pop down a few facts I found for you to peruse over as to why I use chia in my foods, and why I have found it good for me. Yes, I do think chia is a great ingredient in the pantry. Pretty much any day you come to my house you will likely find some either in my pantry unopened or in the fridge- (that is where I keep most opened product due to humidity and weevils..such is life in QLD) .. lol. or you will find foods that that I have made and have frozen ready for eating – with chia in! Yes chia is a friend to my body and mind! Love it!

The good stuff:

100g chia provides:

9x more omega 3 than salmon and zero mercury! Bonus!!

2 x more protein than 3 eggs

2 x more fibre than oats and ZERO GLUTEN

5 x more calcium than a glass of milk and ZERO PUS!!!

So as a celiac- of which I am, and many people are although most do not know it – it is highly beneficial for me to choose not to eat gluten/grains(due to the gross genetic modification and gluten content) as well as choose not to consume most dairy products esepcailly milky, processed, pasturised pus filled milk and cream.Chia can give me what you thinkI am missing out on!! Yay!

100gm of chia is a truck load though- don’t go out and stick 100 gm of chia in a glass and drink it- you will explode! Chia, when coming into contact with fluid produces a gel like substance around the chia seed. It is pretty cool to watch. Place a teaspoon in your glass bottle of water, some lemon, shake it up and leave it for an hour- you will see how the chia ‘expands’ and results in a gel like substance – a bit like little frogs eggs lol. Drink throughout the day! I do, it keeps me full between meals as well as keeping my mind alert, and my energy high providing me with nutrients without ‘eating’ a meal. Perfect.

Chia is high in :

fibre

calcium,

complete protein

amino acids

slowly processed carbohydrates

and loaded with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and omega-3

Chia seeds added to meals and drinks can:

boost energy

improve brain, heart and skin health

thicken soups and casseroles instead of flour based thickeners- or thickeners filled with fillers.

Chiakeeps me healthy from the inside out. And that is the only way to achieve true health- from the inside out.

Chia are called a ‘superfood ‘ yes- but don’t fall into the ‘superfood’ trap. Keep it real. Superfoodis now a term that is coined by those clever marketers to sell you more of what you don’t really need. In this case- ‘superfood’ is a good term to use. The benefits from chia are outstanding. The Mayan’s are believed to have, in times of scarce solid food, only consumed chia and water and been able to run for days. So great for running!! lol!!

Chia are said to be a complete superfoodas they are supposed to be the richest plant based source of omega 3, protein, dietary fibre and antioxidants. And because of their high fibre content they keep the body feeling fuller for longer which can result in eating less as the body feels full. When the body is filled with nutrients dense food(of which chia is) the brain switches of the ‘hunger trigger’- so the mind moves away from being all consumed with food too. Make sense? This can help with weightloss/ fatloss – and sanity!

So all this said and told, I think chia is fabulous for the yummy and delicious foods I can make with it as well!!

Chia can be used as a breakfast.. in homemade cereals (grain free and nut free if you, like me prefer grain free, sugarfree and often nut free foods…)

Chiapots- which can be eaten any time of the day as well as a desert.. certainly beats all those horrible refined sugar options out there!! As a breakfast pot this will keep you going till lunch easy!!! Watch the 10am sugar crash disappear without you even thinking about it! Goodbye ‘diets’.

Chia in soups and casseroles to thicken them up.

Chia in bliss balls/protein balls (chia is high in plant based protein)/truffles.

If you want to detox your body as so many people seem determined to do these days .. instead of buying some packaged premade juice drinks delivered to your door …containing preservatives to keep them looking pretty for longer. Or instead of buying into the latest and great scam I have heard of in a long time..marketed as a detox system– selling you low quality whey protein drinks overflowing with poor quality ingredients/fillers and …SUGAR….

Why don’t you just pop on down to the supermarket or health shop and get yourself some fabulous gelatinous plant foods like… hmmm oh I know… chia!!! or aloe vera or and seaweed!!!. All natural just the way God made them.

These foods form the gel- the gelatinous fibre- in fluid. This gelatinous fibre moves throughthe intestinal tract absorbing and binding waste. They particularly absorb bile salts produced by the liver (oooh a liver detox type thing….); taking with them fat soluble toxins (sounds good yes?)that the body needs and wants to get rid of. Without foods such as chia, aloevera and or seaweed– all foods that produce this fabulous gel- the body finds it very hard to rid itself of the toxins we consume or absorb. When the body can’t pass toxins, the toxins get dumped…into fat cells… and the more crap we eat, the poorer our lifestyle choices.. the more we produce fat cells as we need a place to dump toxins.. which eventually turn into more insidious things if left uncleared…. The small intestine is where it all starts, when foods/toxins are left there- they are just reabsorbed back into the body.- This is bad.

We need to release all toxins so they do not pollute the body.

Drinking pre made juice, proteins, whey or non dairy, as ‘detoxes’ just does not compute. Don’t waste that $600 odd a month on some MLM scheme no matter how amazing they say they feel. Just wait till they start back on real food again!! Or check back on them in 5- 10 years time- and see who is the healthy one..or who is still actually around….

Eat loads of green veges.. bought from your local farmers markets, or permaculture farm.. they are everywhere- you just need to have a squiz for them. Now they are just as reasonable in price as the supermarkets if you are buying in season. Stop demanding all foods all year round. It just isn’t natural! We are seasonal for a reason! So enjoy the foods that are available in seasonand watch your body detox naturally, and easily!

I hope this gives you an idea of why I dig chia seeds! You are welcome to comment or ask me questions!

My info comes from a documentary I sell – if you want it- let me know and I will get you a copy… Expand your knowledge and resources- empower yourself. Take back the control. ONE LIFE LIVE IT WELL!!!!

Here’s to your health and a better world for you, and your children’s children.

The point of these workshops is to share how I eat with anyone who is interested in learning basic skills, using beautiful organic ingredients where possible, using quality ingredients, and making wholefood easy- suitable to every single person no matter what the budget is, nor time constraints.

I want to share the power in knowing whatto eat, whento eat it and how to eat- for a long term, healthy lifestyle– suitable to all dietary choices.

My philosophy in food is pretty simple: Keep it simple; Keep it delicious! If I don’t make delicious food, then I’m not interested. Who wants to eat bland, boring food? Little wonder we reach for the nearest chocolate cake when we are out if food at home is tasteless.

Wholefood ought to be bursting with flavour! Why?! Because wholefood uses whole ingredients. Ingredients that are often organic; or spray free where possible; sourced locally so that means not frozen and available all year round producing a meh flavour. Wholefood is easy. Wholefood will fill you up for longerbecause it is nutrient dense- not necessary calorie dense. = This is where a lot of our current problem stems from:

Using the processed and refined ingredients so readily available from supermarkets gives us exactly the opposite to what the human body craves.

Refined flour, sugar, fat free… sugar free, synthesised food, anything man has messed with …… very few of these ingredients are actually fit for human consumption. They offer little to zero nutrient benefit to the human body, but still come with empty caloires and thenwe expect out bodies to digest these chemically laden ‘foods’ – we wonder why there is a continual increase in terminal illness, children being born with terminal illnesses, obesity and a constant existence of illness- always running to the ‘doctor’ for more pharmaceutical drugs- which may ‘bandaid’ the problem presenting… but how many of you actually read those side effects? Which are very real. And very present.

Be honest….

Wholefoods can significantly increase your overall wellness– the way you think – the words you speak- the energy you have each day – your attitude towards your life and even give you the strength to overcome the issues you face.

Really? Yes really. These are my very strong beliefsand I am sure any person living a ‘wholefood’ life will testify how changing one thing– can be the instigator to changing so many other areas in lifethat you may not even consider to be inter-related. …

Wholefoods are simple. Wholefoods are easy.Wholefoods do notsubscribe to one way of eating– but a wholefood lifestyle can give you the power to understand how ingredientsaffect your uniquebody and mind– and what works for you. We are all different. When we come to accept that and embrace this fact, we are more able to make empowered decisionsrelating to how we choose to live our lives. Does that inherently make sense to you?

I am celiac- which means my body does not like gluten nor dairy. In fact the cleaner I get with my eating, then more this becomes very apparent. Some people have a belief system that says “it was easier when you just at anything’ – my question I ask those people who state this is this:

Would you rather have your body and your mind running below par as it exists in a constant state of inflammation from you ‘eating anything ‘ resulting in you getting the cold, the flu, running on empty, low energy, tired, bloated unable to lose those 5 kilos.. or 25 kilos, get grey hair early, dry skin, gas after eating, constipation, diarrhoea, pains in the stomach, headaches…

The list goes on, but this list is a list too many people live with each and every day! And think it is just the way life is for them.

pfff.

It really is not normal.All signs of discomfort are the body trying to communicate with the brain informing us there is something wrong. It is not OK to ‘live’ with these symptoms and pop a pill to dull that warning. NO!! And if that means changing up a few ingredients in your everyday diet is THAT a big deal? Especially when many if not allthese symptoms disappear.. sometimes even over night… wouldn’t you think that it is worth giving it a try? Wouldn’t it be worth taking out inferior ingredients from your diet? Is it reallythat hard?

I can go on and on about the benefits of eating well. Eating well does notmean being sucked into fabulous marketing strategies out there every day.

Eating well does notmean thinking that shakes will lose the fat, or detox your body and mind.

Eating well does notmean dieting, nor does it mean eating 6 meals a day.

Eating well does not mean‘vegan; ‘raw’; ‘paleo’; ‘protein shakes’….or any other label.

Eating well means understanding your own body and working with what you have. That simple.

Noone can tell you how to eat, nor what to eat. We are all different. Theories change constantly. What was ‘right’ last week is ‘wrong’ this week. What was right last year is changed this year. Consider the war between the doctors, the dieticians, the nutritionists, the naturopaths, the raw food community, the paleo community… on and on and on…. bah blah blah….

Why this war? Who instigated this? Who drives it still?Does it really matter if you are willing to examine a few ideas and come to your own conclusion- every person and theory that has been ‘proven’ right – has also been ‘proven wrong’ – it pays to remember this fact.

I am about to release wholefood workshop dates for October and November. You are invited toto come hang out in the kitchen with me and play with wholefoods. You are welcome to register your interest- by subscribing to this website (top right corner). The dates are released to those who subscribe before they are shared with the general public. I figure people who are genuinely interested in my philosophy and way of life will subscribe – so that is my way to thank you for hanging out with me here.

September was a blast and I know I opened eyes as to how to create beautiful foods with little time to spare, and money. I am all about keeping it realwith no motive other than a genuine passion to empower people- mind, body and soul. It frustrates me to see so many sick people out there- when there is no need– and the answer is and always has been here, under your noses. But sometimes you just need a helping hand to show you the way- and then you fly like the eagles you were created to be – maybe I can be your helping hand..leading you into a fabulous healthy, and delicious Summer and Christmas… ?

Come to a workshop –subscribe today and get much more thanjust wholefoods’– get a whole new way of life….

xx Vashte xx

October and November dates about to be released- first in/ first serve!

I am about to do what I believe is the cardinal sin for posts.. I am going to encourage you to look away from my site onto someone else’s…. oh-ahhh riské they cry!

I actually think I make many mistakeswith this whole website thang, so those of you ‘in the know’are probably just having a giggle and telling me subliminally that this is not the first cardinal sin I have commited…

Sai la vie.

I’m figuring- and hoping, but mostly praying in the right peopleto my site- these people will come back as they ‘get’ meand the attempt I am making in sharing my Good Newswith those who want to listen My site has never really been to talk ‘at’you, but more of an organic process (I sound soooo wholistic right now…)as I learn and develop my passion, knowledge and education in the health and wellness lifestyle – with you – my friends – who have chosen to subscribe and read and hang with me here for a while

Today I am really motivated to share with you a website owned by a colleague first, and now a friend. Rebekah Ritchie is a wonderful woman I came to know through working in this industry. We first met in 2008 when I ran the sales and promotions department for my late partner’s supplement business. She was one of the naturopaths I worked with. Over the years we have remained in distant contact (got to appreciate facebook for that) as she was poached off to Melbourne for greater adventures at the time. Now back on the Gold Coast, she and her brother have this company: www.purelynatural.com.auand distribute the outstanding products I am about to go through below.. and more.

Firstly I am going to state that I get no kickback or reward for endorsing this website or product. I have no problem with people who do endorse for a reward but I think it better that they are upfront and honestabout such things. Most are not. I think it far for the consumer to know whether there is a vested interest(ca-ching $$$$) in promoting goods that may not be allthey are cracked up to be. So this endorsement is purely because I have used the products, and know they are exactly as what they are marketed as. Rebekah is a woman of high integrityand who holds the same high regards for wholeness, natural health and integritythat I do- so it is an absolute pleasure to be able to share her website and product with you.

So lets go:

I almost melted from the heaven-sent smell wafting up tantilising my scences. Mamma mia.. I wondered why I had not opened them before- as I had them in my house for a couple of days already. You see- the thing is- there are no products that do this to me– send me into a spin when I just open the packaging… not like this. And trust me- I have opened a million samples of cacao, carob and cocoa powderwhen searching for the ‘best’ ingredients for the supplements I was involved with making….

TRU RA cacao nibs – are sweeter than your usual cacao nibs- no they have not added sugar. Cacao nibs are usually bitter in taste and not popular with kids or people who are used to refined chocolate. Try these!

Why are they so orgasmicly good? …and lets face it- as we are talking chocolate product, it can be orgasmicly good when the ingredients are right…. and these are. Come on- you have all seen the movie Çhocolat’ yes? If not- download it now- the French have always been ahead of their time in this department.. So why are TRU RA cacao nibs, powder and Big tree Farms Coconut Sugar and coconut nectar do GOOOOOOD….Why?

Well- these products are the only certified organic RAW product currently in Australia at this time. This translates to :

“TRU RA Cacao Nibs, Cacao Powder, and Big tree Farms Coconut Sugar, and Coconut Nectar are verified raw and guaranteed to never be heated above 46C at any stage of manufacture. It is truly unique and packed full of nutrients, antioxidants and essential minerals which are not depleted during processing due to its raw nature.

= the real deal my friends. The ultimate REAL DEAL. BOOM BOOM – opps no longer being all ohm and wholistic but down-to-earth and real with you!!!!

I am told that David Wolfe himself endorses these products. .. now THATS holistic with ohm as icing duuude.

Because the quality is so high, the rush of flavour just jumps out at you from the moment you open the packaging- therefore you many find yourself using less to achieve a better flavour than you have achieved previously using other ingredients- inferior ingredients!!!The quality of your ingredients will directly affect the quality of your food, the absorption of the food you eat and the end result! Makes sense right?!

I highlight these four ingredients as they are the ones I am currently playing with and using in mu workshops- but if you pop over to the website – you will find a plethora of other pure products to replace what you have in your cupboards now!

Rebekah has given me a discount code which I am permitted to share with you if you choose to buy from the net- so use this:

Discount Code: VASHTE ……it is live until the 25 Oct 2014and you will get 15% discounton all purchases- crazy not to make the most of it right?

If you are coming to my next Wholefood Workshop this Sat 27th Sept 2014 – you will be gifted some samples from Rebekah in a goodie bag to take home to get you started. If you are not- and you want to come to a workshop – make sure you are subscribed to this site as dates for Oct and Nov are about to be released. …

Purely Natural have a stall on at the Burleigh Markets on Saturday mornings – they sample their hot chocolate there, cacao clusters, cacao nibs.. you name it- they share it! Feel free to go down and say hi. While you are there make sure you visit Raw Connections with Bryn and Colin who are the masters in Raw Food– try their raw piazza (my fav) or if you have a sweet tooth- any of their raw sweets will send you into natural sugar heaven.

My site is here to share with you the people I meet, the companies I love, and the wisdom I have gleaned over the yeeears of living on this earth lol. Our learnings can continue, can change and backflip- it all depends on what we feed on- physically, emotionally, Spiritually. What are you feeding on?

True health, true change comes from the inside out- so whether you are looking to change physically, emotionally, spiritually– it all starts from the inside out. When you hear truth- you know truth. Listen to the Little Voice within, that voice I know as the Holy Spirit- you may have another name for Him- but whatever you have for Him- that is the Voice of Truth and you know when you hear Truth.

My post today is to share with you a company I have only just discovered and to encourage you to swop out old inferior product for clean, certified, organic, orgasmic products so that you can change the quality of the foods you eat, and therefore the thoughts you think. Food plays an integral part in the thought processes and emotions we experience- how can it not when we are bio-chemical life forms? I am a Christian absolutely, and I understand a little on how God created us and that is Bio-chemically. There is no disputing that fact!

Get the right ingredients in to help your bodies and your minds work more effectively, efficiently and more smoothly. Take one step towards preventative health today- and head over to this website– use the code VASHTE– get your 15%discountand start playing with real ingredients! KNOWING I am not promoting this company for any other reason than because it is the best I have found so far.

xx Vashte xx

Firstly I want to THANKYOU all so much for your enthusiasm and support for my Wholefood Workshops!! They have been received so well, and with such encouragement!! THANKYOU!!

The first workshop takes place tomorrow I am very excited !! The workshop is filled with amazing peopleall wanting to have fun, and learn more about the basics of my style of food prep. So- I have a very coolafternoon planned It is chocka- blockfull of ideas, concepts and yummy food!!! Not a grain of refined sugar, refined flour..refined anythingin sight! If anyone walks away hungry… I will fall over myself in disbelief.

My wholefood workshops are planned to be easy, and fun and designed for everyoneto get their hands messy, sticky and tasty! It is my firm belief that this is the best way to learn– having been a ‘resistant’cook for many years growing up I know what it is liketo have no confidencein the kitchen- and no desireto be there. NOW – I love the place because I knowI am creating the most tasty, delicious meals and morsels… and my food does notmake me fat!!!

I long believed food made me fat. That just by looking at food I would put on weight. Even if I smeltfood I would gain weight. No longer !!! As I grow in knowledge and understanding of INGREDIENTS, and howthey affect the body and mind… what foods my body loves, and what foods my body just absolutely does not love….. food is now my friend. It is not the enemy.

So my friends! I share this and so much more with you in my wholefood workshops, on this page and beyond!! Very excited and so stokedyou are all behind me. It really is very encouragingand I greatlyappreciate it. I truly do.

My second class on the 27th Sept 2014is now closedtoo as I have hit the maximum for that workshop as well!! Thankyou!!!

If you missed out, or couldn’t make these dates- I will be holding more workshops in Octwith a different menu– each month my wholefood workshop will be themed to suit the season– I cook to the seasons, and keep things as organic as possible. If you want to be in one of the October workshops– you will need to subscribe to my website (top right corner of the home page) as all subscribers get first choicefor spaces as a thankyou for hanging with me here!

I specialise in weight lossbut I prefer to take the focus off that and make food fun. When we make food fun, using wholeingredients that actually nourish the body, taste incredible and make you feel on top of the world… the rest just falls away without too much bother. This whole ‘weightloss’ industry– it is failing. Don’t be part of the failing industry- be part of the REVOLUTION. – the WHOLEFOOD REVOLUTION!!Stay herewith me a while, hang out, have fun, and let go of all that baggage the world puts on you. THIS is the way forward to true health. Come out of the matrix

Let’s get the whole ‘weightloss’ thing in perspective!!

Please feel free to share my posts and my sitewith anyone you know- I prefer to be gentle and realistic in the approach to health.

I would love to see you in my October classes (dates to be released) !! So subscribe today!!!!

xx Vashte xx

Today, in Australia, it is Fathers Day. I wish all the Fathers out there a wonder day, embracing the gift they have been given in this life.

It is my brother’s first Fathers Day. He seems to be a pretty cool Dad. His son even gave him a book called “Why I love my Daddy”. When I asked him what the book said, my brother remembers “He is funny” and “He is clever” – straight off the cuff.. not too much else 😉 His son is about 5 months old… so .. I guess he must be as clever as his Dad is… They have a beautiful family- filled with love and it shows.

I respect and honour all parents out there. It is a mammoth task and one I have not experienced. Yet or perhaps ever. Who knows.

I know it takes a strong man. A loving man. A true man to be a Dad.

In church today the paster gave us this quote which I loved: “It is easier for a Father to have children, than it is for children to have a good Father”. Hands up those who know this to be true – on both sides of the fence. My hand raises.

An ideal family celebrates this day with their Dad. The man they lean on, trust, feel safe with. This is the image I imagine in my mind about Fathers Day and the one I pray you are celebrating today!:

For me, Fathers Day has been a day of unexpressed annoyanceI guess. I don’t remember my Dad being around, and certainly don’t remember words of encouragement, much love or support from him. Every girl wants the love of her ‘father’. But my ‘father’ was never really much of a ‘father’. I remember fighting though. Too many families are like this today. I pray that more people understand how important it is for a child to have a Mum AND a Dad. If they have issues- keep it away from the children. He was never very good at that. Children are smart and see through everything – it is funny how some adults think they don’t. -Especially when those adults were once children too..

I had a step father once for a while- he tried to be a good man, and a good father. I still respect the role he played in my life as that person. He spent time helping me with certain classes in school, and he tried to be the ‘man’ we needed in our family. As a Dad. But he is no longer in our lives either.

My biological Father is alive. I don’t speak to him very often. I’m not angry with him or upset with him. I still love him because I have a small understanding of who he is, and what it might have been like growing up in his family as a child. And I believe it would have been horrible. HIS father was a bad man. It is harder for a person who has never been shown love, to give love or express it. It is not impossible, but my Father, chose not to change very much. That is OK with me- it is what it is.

I’m still a girl who wants the love of a Father. I know he loves me even though he doesn’t show it, or know how to show it well, or has bothered much to try..

I am safe though- because I found a real love from The Father of all- Christ Jesus’ Father: God. So for all the people out there who have not experienced love from their Dad’s. For those who have been mistreated. For those who have been abandoned- and for those who actually do have the coolest Dad’s in the world! -There is One out there who really doeslove unconditionally- no matter what- through thick and thin- is never angry with you – and always forgives. There is One who will make you feel safe, and keep you safe from all things.. and He is with you all the time.

His name is God. Jesus Christ’s father. Our creator.

God IS love so everything He does is in love. Pretty cool to have a Dad who always, always, alwayswalks in love. It’s very safe. It’s very empowering.

So I leave you with this thought:

Dad– I do love you- even though I don’t speak to you often.

AND:

God is GOOD and something GOOD is going to happen today and everyday with God our Father walking with us.

Happy Fathers Day Everyone!

Forgive your children. Forgive your parents. Forget it all- there is no point harbouring memories that only eat you up, spit you out and end up destroying lives.

xx Vashte xx

Who doesn’t love a cookie every now and then? Apparently they are ‘ bad’ for you… well that all depends on the ingredients doesn’t it! My cookies are mouthwateringly delicious – white flour free! White sugar free. Vegan. So enjoy with a lovely cup of green tea ( my preference is Madame Flavour– love her teas). It was a rainy day this cookie day so I had my ugg boots on and a plate of three- all to me. Happy days!

These cookies do contain some gluten as spelt has gluten- low gluten- but it’s gluten. As spelt is an ancient grain it is much less refined than regular flour. If you are ‘gluten intolerant’ try spelt – many people can enjoy this ancient grain. If you are a celiac like me – you will need to use a different flour- I give you some options below- and a couple of different photos subbing out the spelt to make them celiac friendly. Wholefood, healthy cooking is really all about understanding ingredients and knowing how to manipulate recipes to suit your digestion and palette. SO have fun with food- like I do!

I am not a ‘baker’ – I predominately make raw treats (without too many nuts and dates..); smoothies; and slow cook or dehydrate. But why put oneself in a box- if I can create these delicious morsels- so can you !!

What you need:

1 cup organic spelt flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 tsp Himalayan salt

1/4 c almond mylk (homemade if you have time !) HERE is how to make your own mylk. It is easy.

1/4 c melted virgin coconut oil

1/4 c coconut nectar – these are not sweet cookies- if you want them sweeter- you need to add more nectar..but make the recipe first-we eat too much sugar today…..

1 tspn organic vanilla paste – from the supermarket even!! It is heaven

How to Make it Work:

Add chocolate pieces (keep them chunky!) and walnut pieces leaving a little chocolate and walnut aside to sprinkle on top as decoration.

Wet your hands slightly and then roll into balls then place on the baking paper. If you make them big- they result in big cookies. Make them small – they are small cookies!

Dip a fork in spelt to lightly cover the prongs and use to flatten the cookie out. Make them quite fat if you like a chunky cookie.

Bake for 10-20 minutes. Keep an eye on your cookies as they are easy to burn. They are ready when they are a light brown colour all over- they need to be baked through to the middle. Watch the middle cookies- some ovens cook the cookies on the outskirts faster than the middle ones.

When they are done, let them cook for 3 minutes or so, then remove with a spatula to place them on a cooling rack. The longer you leave them on the baking tray- the longer they contunue to bake. They will be quite soft but will harden when they are cool.

Your house should smell amaaaazing! That vanilla is yummmmmy!!! I love my cookies warm- so go ahead – enjoy one before they become all boring and cold and…everyone else eats them!!

I pulled mine out a tad too soon so they were a little too moist- I use my dehydrator to finish the job when I do that – they go in for 30mins or so on 45C – it made them perfect. I slightly over cooked my other version (with no spelt) so was extra wary on these.. !!

Non gluten version:

for celiacs like me!!!

Sub out the spelt for

1 cup of almond meal. Almond meal is simply almonds ground to a flour- I ground mine but left them quite chunky. You do need a fine meal otherwise you end up with quite a wet cookie which is harder to get firm.

add 1/4 c coconut flour as well.

I took the coconut oil out completely as nuts have their own healthy fats. You don’t need more.

The oven needs to be lower- so set for 130C and bake for longer at the lower heat. This will help ensure you get a crispy cookie without burning the top like I did first time round. Bake for 20 mins keeping a close eye on them. I popped mine in the dehydrator once they had cooled for 20 mins or so- the dehydrator rocks! If you don’t have a dehydrator and try this version- pop them in the freezer once they are cooled! Yes really! They end up deliciously crunchy and won’t freeze. Nuts in the freezer are the best place to keep them as they keep their crunchiness there- especially if they have been activated and then dehydrated. (Bonus tip!!)

Next time I make these babies- I will add raisins and take out the walnuts. Keeping the chocolate though thank you very much!

So this is my mixture using my ground almond meal- it can be easier to buy the almond meal if you don’t have the best food processor. See how chunky and nutty it looks? :

If you make these – let me know how you go! Leave a comment below! They didn’t last 24 hours in my house!!!

Makes 9 big fat cookies.

This is the finish product for the almond meal double chocolate chip and walnut cookies. With Madame Flavour tea.. of course !

Leave me a comment- make them! Tell me your adventure in the kitchen!!!! I love sharing!!!

-Wholefood-

We see fads come in food, and fads go. Be they healthy or not, we are a people searching for the easy way out, and we want it yesterday. But “the time has come the walrus said” …. People are waking up from the slumber that very clever marketers have bathed us in for so many years. No longer can we deny the ever present UN- healthy state too many people find their bodies..and their minds to be in. More and more people are slowly but surely choosing to research, hunt out and learn different strategies to heal themselves– all looking for answers. Answers the pharmaceuticals, manufacturers and agri-business just are not providing. And have never provided… slowly are we realising the pills, potions, quick fixes, shakesand lotions have obviously just not worked… ever.

So where do we go from here?

Welcome to Wholefoods. Or perhaps a better welcome is: welcome BACK to wholefoods. Our grandparents and their parents may have known a thing or too after all…..

What are ‘ wholefoods’? Is this another catch phrase/fad used by the clever marketers? Well yes, in some cases – so buyer beware…always beware!.. Stear clear of food coming in boxes!!!

A wholefood is all about REAL FOOD. It is food that nourishes the body. It is food that nourishes the mind. Do you think the food you eat does not absolutely, directly affect how the mind thinks? hmm think again…. The whole is in the part and the part is in the whole… who can it NOT affect our minds as well as our bodies?

A wholefood is food that fills you up- the body knows when to stop….

A wholefood is food that tastes like heaven would!

Wholefood is made from natural ingredientswith little to no genetic modification from man. Man has NEVER been able to produce a food better than God has. Never.

Wholefoodis food kept as close to it’s natural state as possible in the cooking process. And when cooked, it is cooked gently to reduce loss of nutrients.

Wholefoodis food made from ingredients that care for the environment, sustains the beautiful planet we live on and the magnificent animals that have helped to produce it.

Wholefood is food that HEALS.

Wholefoodis simple food using simple ingredients.

Wholefood is not lumped into a box- it can be raw, cooked, slowcooked, baked, dehydrated, gluten free, containing gluten, ancient grains, vegan, meat…

Healthy food is wholefood. It is not from a box in the middle of the supermarket aisle, nor has it been pulled apart as a singular source with added ‘ nutrients’, artificial sweeteners, additives, fillers, colours…

Wholefoodcan be UGLY to look at.. but the tastes are like little explosions of deliciousness in your mouth!

Have you ever wondered how so many people, myself included, can sit down and eat an entire takeaway pizza all to myself..and still feel hungry? I am not a large person- nor am I overweight. But I can do that at the drop of a hat. Easy.

Why?

Here is why I can do that, and likely so can you...: The great majority of ‘ food’ produced by manufacturers and large scale agri-business today is virtually devoid of any nutritional content at all.

What results is that you and I, are able to….. eat and eat and eat. We eat huge amounts of this stuff ‘they’ call food..but we just don’t get full. Not even after one entire family sized pizza. We are still hungry. We are consuming huge amounts of calories ..devoid of any goodness.

We are overfed and undernourished.

Let me repeat that:

We are overfed and UNDER nourished.

Marinate on that a moment. Could it, in fact, be true? Does that seem a fair call? It certainly seems that way to me.

It is little wonder so many of us are painfully overweight, obese and morbidly obese. SO much so that ‘overweight’ is normal today. Why is it so hard to lose that extra 5kgs for those of you out there who exercise and keep relatively healthy? ??? Look at the quality and type of the food we eat… the results are speaking for themselves.

We are all in the same boat. Those who want to lose that 5kgs to those who are morbidly obese. It is time to take back ownership of control- and you CAN do it. One step at a time.

You are not alone.

Take your life back- now!

Wouldn’t you like to have the ability of what you put in your mouth?

Wouldn’t you like to destroy those ‘cravings’ ?

Wouldn’t you like to feel the empowered change of learning some delicious basics?

Wouldn’t you like to NOT BE afraid of the kitchen? Im talking to YOU- I know you are reading this.

Wouldn’t you like to have some FUN in the kitchen, with no guilt or condemnation attached!

Wouldn’t you like to start to experiment with interesting ingredients?

Wouldn’t you like to take the control BACK and put it square in your own hands!

Wouldn’t you like to never DIET again?

If you answered yesto just one of those questions..

If something triggers an interest in finding out more about wholefoods with me…

If you would like to have a bit of fun (a whole heap of fun) with me in my kitchen, with no judgement..just us sharing ideas….

…then I invite you to my Wholefood Workshops this month.

Sept 13th and 27th- both days are Saturdays so you choose which day best suits you.

12 noon to 3pm ish.

$67 pp, per session.

Surfers Paradise.

Email me for tickets with your full name and phone number and I will call you to confirm.

You get to have a go making, creating, and then sampling what you make!

Food is not your enemy. Wholefood is your friend. Mind, Body and Spirit.

Email me today to secure your tickets.

Come along, have some fun, learn some basics to get you ruling the kitchen and understanding food!We are only afraid of the things we do not understand.So come and begin on this exciting, empowering journey!

Vashte has a BA majoring in Psychology; is a Master Neuro-Linguistic Programmer, Master Results and Performance Coach, and holds qualifications in advanced neurological re-patterning. She has a Diploma in Christian Biblical Studies and is a Qualified Personal Trainer registered with Fitness Australia. She has been researching nutrition for 20 years; composing wholefood food plans for 6 years, focusing on weight and fatloss via wholefood.

Vashte is a health and wellness ambassador, specialising in spirit, mind and body.

Vashte is currently based on the Gold Coast and consults from there. Skype sessions are available for those outside this area. Please contact her via email: info@vashte.com for further information.